The following are the components needed to begin the configurations on the Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) :
- Cisco ASA
- Console cable
- USB-to-serial converter (optional)
- Ethernet cables (optional)
- Terminal emulation program: PuTTY, SecureCRT, or TeraTerm
- Laptop/PC
Before we get started, there are several methods for setting up and managing the ASA. The common method, which you may already know, is via the CLI using a Terminal-emulation program. However there is another, using the Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM), which provides a Graphical User Interface for the ASA. There is also the Cisco Security Manager (CSM), which is a commercial tool created by Cisco for enterprise management of their routers, switches, and security devices.
For the remainder of this book, we'll be using both the CLI and the ASDM to administer and manage the ASA.
With...